Pond king on the second cast

[fishwizzard]

This morning I went out to a small local pond to try out a used Dawia PX68 I picked up the other day.  I don't have a proper rod for it yet so I threw in on an old Abu medium action I had laying around.  I didn't have high hopes for throwing anything really light with it, so I brought an assortment of plastics, hooks and jigs, figuring I would need at least an 1/8-1/4oz weight to make any decent casts.  

Much to my surprise the combo was able to cast a weightless Rage Menace a very respectable distance with good accuracy.  The Menace has become a real favorite of mine over this past season. I have messed with a half dozen ways to rig it, but I have settled on this:

The hook is an Owner 2/0 cutting point.  It really tears the plastics up quickly but I rarely miss a hookup now and the plastic is about the perfect size and weight for the kind of fishing I like to do. 

In anycase, this pond is small, way less then an acre and sits on a waterfowl refuge which is about to close for the season.  All summer I have had limited luck here, most trips only managing a small fish or two.  Today was overcast and wet, last night was our first rain in a week or two.  

 

Having never used this reel before, I made my first cast at an open lane in the shallow pads that cover one bank.  Surprised at how well it cast, I aimed my next one at the weed line on the far shore.  I managed about half a turn of the handle and the rod jumped and at first I thought I had a turtle.  The bass imminently jumped and I knew I had something good on.  In general at this pond gives up a handful of dinks and keepers per trip, but I have only ever caught a single decent fish out of it.  Today I think I caught him again.  I was running 8lb YZH and had to run up the bank a bit to get the fish into the open lane, as I was not confident I could pull him through even the sparse pads.  I do almost all of my fishing with a spinning combo and without the clicking it took me a bit to realize the fish was pulling drag.  Once I had that squared away I manged to land him.  He was hooked right in the upper lip and the plastic had slid up the line.

I swear I caught this same fish in the spring and the pond is so tiny and shallow I don't see how there can be many of this size in there.  Once I got him back in the water I proceeded to catch about a dozen of his smaller friends and maybe another dozen dinks, all on the same lure.  Or rather the same type, they were only lasting about 3-4 fish per and sometimes less.  I have some Parasite clips from a LD sale but I have not yet messed around with them.  Overall I am pleased as hell with both my new reel and this particular presentation and am excited to pick up my new rod this weekend and head back here to see if I can meet the king a third time. 

[Hog Basser]

Good story and a good lookin' fish! 

[jr231]

Yea good story. However the biggest fish in the pond is almost (if not always) female. Id try a top water around dusk or dawn or anytime it's slightly windy.  Looks like a nice pond. 

Also, I'm not sure how often you fish the pond. But I would bring some creek chubs or try free lining a small bluegill (3-4") if there is a big gal in there. You'll know rather quickly if she's in the mood . Just a suggestion . I know alot of people frown upon live bait, but it's a good way to find out the true size in the pond if you're not 100% sure.  

You said you don't often have much luck with numbers. Which makes me believe one of two things (if not both)

The pond is very pressured. Or there's a beast in there 

[fishwizzard]

The park the pond is located in has a mandatory fisherman log and if it is to be trusted (and I do, there are always rangers coming and going from the parking area and they have wandered down to poke at me when dusk was approaching a few times) then the pond gets little pressure at all.  Often I am the only sign-in within a few days of my visit.  They also do not mow all the way to the bank, so it is highly unpleasant to fish there most of the year.  

In any case, today I did do one thing different.  I hit this pond first instead of last.  There are three other ponds on the property that look better then this one. I usually hit them fist and only hit the small pond at the end of the day.  It is usually around 2-4pm and I am tired from fishing all day and never really fish it with much care.  But I was going through some old pics the other day and noticed that all my catch pictures from this park were from the little pond.  So I decided to hit it first, and began the day there at 9am.  

The park closes until January in 19 days, so I have a bit of time to try and again.  Next time I will have a proper rod for my bfs reel and hope to arrive right at dawn and cover every inch of water. 

[jr231]

When I pond fish I usually only bring select items. Plastic craws, ribbon tail worm ,Flukes, senkos, shad raps, a popper (and frog) , a jig (with craw trailer), a rapala original floater and terminal tackle. I almost always start out with a weightless and a t rig on the two rods I bring. Depending on results . I rotate the shad rap and popper in. The jig with a rage chunk almost never lets me down. 

Good luck. Post about it ! 

[fishwizzard]

So I found the picture of what I believe is the same fish, caught this spring:

I know the fish from today looks smaller, but it was flopping around a good bit.  

[jr231]

Did you get a length ? I almost always have a tape with me. 

Do you notice small fish (minnows ) when you walk the shore ?? I'm assuming there are bluegill...

[Reel Guy]

Nice story and nice fish!

[Bankbeater]

Nice fish, nice story, and nice pond! 

[flyingmonkie]

I actually think that IS the same fish.  If you look closely at the lateral line, it's the same pattern.